Toy aeboplawe



Aug. 6, 1929. J. K. HODGSON TOY AEROPLANE Filed Sept. 27, 1928 iimzd 1 III .l l l .II II ture 11 which is at present shown as includ- Patented Aug. 5, 1929.

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JOHN K. HODGSON, 0F EAU GALLIE, FLORIDA.

. TOY AERQPLANE.

Application filed September 27, 1928.

This invention relates to toy aeroplanes and more particularlyto a toy glider.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character a construction such that the glider is automatically corrected in event it goes into a dive, thus enabling the device to be conveniently employed in combination with a kite or other elevating means from which the glider may be subsequently detached. I A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be very readily and cheaply manufactured and wiich will be durable and efficient in service.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a glider constructed in accordance with my invention, the tail aileron and its control being illustrated in solid lines in positions occupied in normal flight and in dotted lines in positions occupied during a dive;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the empennage; j 1

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing the relative positions of the weight and fuselage strip.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the glider includes a fuselage, which may comprise a single flat strip of extremely light material, such as basal wood, which adjacent to and spaced from its forward end has secured thereto a wing strucing upper and lower wings 12 suitably braced to one another, as indicated at 13 and rigidly secured to the fuselage strip 10. At its rear end, this fuselage strip has secured thereto an empennage including a verti'cal fin 14 constructed to resemble the vertical fin and'vertical rudder of the ordinary aeroplane empennage and horizontal fin 15,

of the-horizontal and then bent Serial No. 308,792.

inwardly, as indicated at 18, and eye loops 19 formed centrally of longitudinally extending braces 20 included in the tail aileron at a point spaced from the forward edge of this aileron. Adjacent the vertical fin, this aileron has extending upwardly therefrom a pair of converging braces 21 which join at their upper ends in the form of an eye loop 22 well spaced above the upper surface of the aileron.

Extending forwardly from the upper wing structure is a pair of braces 23 which may be briefly described as a portion of a towing structure for the glider.

These braces are preferably in the form of wires extending forwardly from the forward edge of the upper wing and have lashed thereto, as at 24, the upper ends 25 of diverging arms 26, the lower ends of which are looped, as at 27, to secure a counterweight 28. To the counterweight is secured on operating cord or thread 29 which extends rearwardly and has its rear end engaged in the eye loop 22, and is of such length that when the glider is in normal or gliding position, the tail aileron 16 constitutes a continuation of the horizontal fins 15 and exercises no effect upon the horizontal angular position of the device. This is due to the fact that a tether 80 connected to the weight and to the forward end of the fuselage strip 10 limits rearward movement of the weight at the time when the aileron and horizontal fins are aligned. If, however, the forward end of the structure tips downwardly, the weight will swing forwardly, as suggested by the dotted line position, causing an inclination of the aileron l6 proportional to the angle of tip, This tends to depress the rear or empennage end of the fuselage strip, restoring the equilibrium. A second tether 31 serves to limit the forward movement of the weight and to prevent too great an angular deflection of the aileron. By sliding the lashing, which frictionally maintains its position upon the wires 23 forwardly or rearwardly, the angle at which the weight will come into play to shift the tail ailerons may be controlled, thus controlling the steepness of the dive and the speed with which this dive is made. Attention is directed to the fact that by placing the pivot at a point spaced from the fors for ward 1d ed e of flQ tail aileron, t

of the horizontal fins, so that the air may act thereon, as well as upon the rear end and a partial balance of thrust will result.

At the same time, by placing this pivot at a point'in advance of the center, any flapping is eliminated, due to the extra pressure exerted by the wind upon the rear or trailing edge.

The vertical rudder31 is pivoted to the Vertical fin 14- and has its rear or trailing edgeconnected with the longitudinal brace. 17 of the horizontal fins by flexible elements 32, the connection of WJlCll with the brace 17 is adjustable longitudinally of these braces, so that the angular position of the rudder may be determined, as indicated by dotted lines in'Figure 2. Thus, not only may the steepness of the dive be controller but the glider may be caused to circle as it dives in circles, the size of which may be "controlled.

Since the structure recited is capable of a certain range of change and modificationwithout materially departing from the spirit of the invention, I donot limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

1. In a toy glider, a longitudinally extending fuselage strip, a wing structure carried by the strip adjacent its forward end, an enipennage carried by the strip adjacent its rear end and including horizontal lins anda tail aileron, supports carried by the wing structure and extending forwardly therefrom, a sling pivoted to the supports,

a weight carried by the sling, a flexible con-' nection between said weight and aileron elevating the rear edge of the aileron as the weight moves forwardly, and a tether limiting rearward movement of the weight when the aileron aligns with the horizontal fins of the empennage.

2. In a toy glider, a longitudinally extending fuselage strip, a wing structure carried by the strip adjacent its forward end, an empennage carried by the strip adjacent its rear end and including horizontal ins and a tail aileron, supports carried by the wing structure and extending forwardly there-v from, a sling pivoted to the supports, a weight carried by the sling, a flexible connection between said weight and aileron elevating the rear edge of the aileron as the weightmovcs forwardly, a tether limiting rearward movement of the weight when the aileron aligns with the horizontal fins of the empennage, and a second tether limiting the forward movement of said weight.

8. In a toy glider, a longitudinally extending fuselage strip, a wing structure carried by the strip adjacent its forward end, an empennage carried by the strip adjacent its rear end and including a tail aileron, supports carried by and extending forwardly from the wing structure at opposite sides of the fuselage strip, a V-shaped sling having the upper ends of the arms thereof adjustably connected to said supports and having in its lower end a loop, a weight dis posed in the loop, and a connection betweensaid weight and aileron elevating the rear edge of the aileron as the weight moves forwardly.

' 4. In a toy glider, a longitudinally extending fuselage strip, a wing structure carried by the strip adjacent its forward end, an empennage carried by the strip adjacent its rear end and including a tail aileron, supports carried by and extending forwardly from the wing structure at opposite sides of the fuselage strip, a V-shaped sling having the upper ends of the arms thereof adjustably connected to said supports and having in its lower end a loop, a weight disposed in the loop, a connection between said weight and aileron elevating the rear edge of the aileron as the weight moves forwardly, and means limiting rearward movement of the weight when the aileron aligns with the horizontal face of the empennage.

5.111 a toy glider, a longitudinally ex tending fuselage strip, a wing structure carried by the strip adjacent its forward end, an empennage carried by the strip adjacent its rear end and including horizontal fins and a tail aileron, supports carried by and extending forwardly from the wing struc- V ture at opposite sides of the fuselage strip,

a V-shaped sling having the upper ends of the arms thereof adjustably connected to said supports and having in its lower end a loop, a weight disposed in the loop, and a connection between said weight and aileron elevating the rear edge of the aileron as the weight moves forwardly, the aileron having pivotal connection with said horizontal fins which engages the aileron at a point intermediate the forward and rear edges thereof and in advance of the transverse center of the aileron.

6. In a toy glider, a longitudinally extending fuselage strip, a wing structure carried by the strip adjacent its forward end, an empennage carried by the strip adjacent its rear end and including horizontal fins and a tail aileron, supports carried by the wing structure and extending forwardly therefrom, a sling pivotedto the supports, a weight carried by the sling, a flxible con nection between said weight and aileron elevating the rear edgeof the aileron as the weight moves forwardly, and a tether limiting rearwardmovement of the weight when the aileron aligns with the horizontal fins of the einpennage, the pivotal Connection of the sling to the supports being adjustable longitudinally of the supports to thereby operates to shift the aileron.

7. In an einpennage structure for toy gliders, a fuselage strip, horizontal and vertical fins extending horizontally and vertically therefrom, longitudinally extending braces upon the horizontal fins, a vertical rudder pivoted to the rear edge of the vertical fin and flexible connections between the rear edge of the vertical rudder and said braces shiftable longitudinally upon the braces to thereby determine the angular 10 position of the vertical rudder.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

JOHN K. HODGSON. 

